Wyden Announces Finance Committee Staff Changes

Washington, D.C.—Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today announced key committee staff changes.

“The Finance Committee’s tax team is the best in the business. The Inflation Reduction Act would not have gotten across the finish line without this team’s expertise and dedication,” said Wyden. “Our staff prepared for every eventuality, and pivoted time and time again to get a bill done. Following this historic achievement, I’m pleased to announce exciting new roles for members of our team.”

Tiffany Smith will now serve as the committee’s General Counsel, having served as Chief Tax Counsel since 2016 and on the committee since 2007. Smith has played a key role in every tax bill Congress has passed in the last decade and has led the tax team through consideration of historic legislation, most recently the Inflation Reduction Act. Smith previously served in the office of the IRS Chief Counsel. Smith is a graduate of the University of Illinois, the University of Illinois College of Law, and Georgetown University Law Center, where she received an LL.M in taxation.

Bobby Andres will now lead the tax team as Chief Tax Advisor, having served on the committee since 2013. Andres has advised on domestic and international business tax incentives and infrastructure policy. Most recently, he directed the committee’s efforts on clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing. He led development of the Clean Energy for America Act, which was incorporated into the Inflation Reduction Act and is the most significant clean energy legislation passed by Congress. He also played a key role in the CHIPS and Science Act, developing the investment tax credit for domestic semiconductor manufacturing. Andres is a graduate of the University of Georgia and Georgetown University, where he received a Master of Public Policy.

Ashley Schapitl will now serve as Senior Policy Advisor, having served on the committee since 2019. Schapitl has advised on communications. She led strategic communications efforts on historic Inflation Reduction Act policies, including clean energy tax credits, corporate alternative minimum tax, stock buyback tax, and IRS funding, as well as more than a dozen policies on Democrats’ revenue menu. She has also overseen communications on major investigations. Schapitl is a graduate of the University of Maryland and Georgetown University, where she received a Master of Professional Studies.

Chris Arneson will now serve as Chief Budget and Economic Advisor, having served on the committee since 2011. Arneson has advised on tax accounting, tax-exempt organizations, and wealth transfer taxes. He has also coordinated tax oversight investigations, including a bipartisan investigation in abuse of syndicated conservation easements. Most recently, he led the development of the Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax, which was included in the Inflation Reduction Act and is the most significant effort to ensure billion-dollar corporations pay their fair share in taxes in decades. He also played a major role in drafting the Billionaire Income Tax. Arneson is a graduate of the University of Montana and American University, where he received a Master of Public Administration.

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